Showing posts with label 1970's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1970's. Show all posts

4/25/2011

Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy - 1973

Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy Record Album
Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy Record Album
The year 1973 was a mere two years from the explosion of disco music and the down fall of modern society. Led Zeppelin released their fifth album, Houses Of The Holy. This album actually had a title, unlike the previous offering, unofficially known as Led Zeppelin IV. However, the rock band stayed with their bizarre artistic view by not having any words on the album cover. You had to buy the album and crack the plastic protective sheet to explore the lyrics and song titles.

What is the first thing you see when looking at this cover? Perhaps these are outcasts from the movie Splash, starring Darryl Hannah as the sexy nude mermaid coming ashore to mate with Tom Hanks. Perhaps a sequel to the Stepford Wives, Stepford Daughters. Perhaps albino zombies attacking. Yes, a total WTF album cover.

The back cover of Houses Of The Holy doesn't offer up any clues as well. No name, no album title, no band members, no year recorded, not a single word or hint of who released the album.

You must remember, this was 1973, way before the Internet, before MTV, before MP3 players. Listening to the FM radio was the base of music knowledge. When we heard a song or album we had to have, we actually had to go to a record store, browse the rows of albums offered, choose our selection, stand in line and pay cash for our record. Finding Houses Of The Holy was somewhat difficult. One had to ask what album was the new Led zeppelin vinyl. Some record stores rectified this problem by adding a sticker to the outside plastic wrapper denoting Houses Of the Holy.

The inner cover stays with the non disclosure theme. Simply a panoramic view of an old English castle on a hill-side with one naked man holding a naked woman over his head. Perhaps he is sacrificing her to the Gods.

Finally, once inside the album, the vinyl sleeve offered the album title, song titles and lyrics, band members, year recorded, and all the other album information.

Led Zeppelin is comprised of four band members. Robert Plant - Vocals, Jimmy Page - Guitar, John Paul Jones - Bass and Organ, John Bonham - Drums.

Album Tracks:
Side One: The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Over The Hills And Far Away, The Crunge.
Side Two: Dancing Days, D'Yer Mak'er, No Quarter, The ocean.

Over the Hills And Far Away was the album's radio air time hit. The exact lyrics follow.

Hey Lady - you got the love I need,
Oh may Be - more than enough.
Oh, Darling Darling Darling walk a while with me,
Oh, you got so much, so much, so much.

Many have I loved,
Many times been bitten,
Many times I've gazed,
Along the open road.

Many times I've lied,
And many times I've listened,
Many times I've wondered,
How much there is to know.

Many dreams come true,
And some have silver linings,
I live for my dream,
And a pocketful of gold.

Mellow is the man,
Who knows what he's been missing,
Many many men,
Can't see the open road.

Many is a word,
That only leaves you guessing,
Guessing' bout a thing,
You really ought to know.
You really ought to know.
I really ought to know.

Sidenote: The lyrics printed in the liner notes are not exactly what is listed above. Also, for the record, Led Zeppelin was not the "Panty wetter" music many claimed it to be. Just sayin.




Led Zeppelin Houses Of the Holy Back Cover
Houses Of the Holy Back Cover

Led Zeppelin House Of the Holy Inside Cover Art
Led Zeppelin House Of the Holy Inside Cover Art

Official Lyrics Houses Of The Holy Album
Album Jacket Cover

Album Lyrics

Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy Vinyl
Houses of the Holy Vinyl




LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

1/15/2011

Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac 1975

Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac Vinyl Album
Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac Vinyl Album
 Fleetwood Mac released its tenth album in July of 1975 and after a year on the charts reached number one on Billboards Album charts. This is the second album also titled Fleetwood Mac with the original released in 1968. 

John Mcvie is on the left holding the cane and sipping champagne and Mick Fleetwood, who is the tallest member of the band, is depicted as very short juggling the world with the band revolving.

Fleetwood Mac album back cover has a photo of the band inside a bathroom. Band members from left to right are, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, And John McVie.

At the bottom of the back cover: The song titles are listed in the first two rows, the band members in the third row, and the legal mumbo jumbo in the fourth row.

Side One: Monday Morning, Warm Ways, Blue Letter, Rhiannon, Over My head, Crystal.
Side Two: Say You Love Me, Landslide, World Turning, Sugar Daddy, I'm So Afraid.

The front side of the liner notes had the lyrics to each side. The biggest hit from the album was Rhiannon, sung by Stevie Nicks. The exact lyrics are below.

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night
And wouldn't you love to love her
She rules her life like a bird in flight
And who will be her lover..

All your life you've never seen
A woman - taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven
Will you ever win...

She is like a cat in the dark
And then she is the darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark-
And when the sky is starless-

All your life you've never seen-
A woman - taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven
Will you ever win...
Will you ever win..

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

She rings like a bell through the night
And wouldn't you love to love her
She rules her life like a bird in flight
And who will be her lover

All your life you've never seen
A woman - taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven
Will you ever win
Will you ever win

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

Taken by
Taken by the sky (Repeat three times)

Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind (Repeat three times)


Please not that the lyrics on the liner notes do not match up. Perhaps space was at a premium and the lyrics were condensed.

The back side of the liner notes contained the lyrics to the flip side of the album. Playful penguins were scattered on the page.

This album is a Warner Brothers Records, song selections published by Rockhopper Music, 1975.

This album propelled Fleetwood Mac to new heights of popularity. I remember in late 75 and 76 this album dominating the airwaves. It was also the time I got my drivers license and i couldn't wait to blast the 8-Track of Fleetwood Mac with the bass turned up high in my car.

Good times, good times,

Dreams unwind, love's a state of mind.



Fleetwood Mac Back Cover Art
Fleetwood Mac Back Cover Art

Fleetwood Mac Album Lyrics
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics

Album Lyrics




LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

6/01/2008

Yes - Fragile - 1972

Yes Fragile Record Album 1972 Record Cover
Yes Fragile Record Album 1972 Record Cover
Fragile Yes Album 1972

Atlantic Record Company had a progressive rock band on their hands. This band, named Yes, had a unique blend of music melding both classical instruments with the more traditional rock staples of drums and guitars. That blend is the result of the Fragile album.

The left inside cover has the lyrics to the album. One of the hit songs, Round About was always clouded with incorrect lyrics. Below, is the exact lyrics taken from the album jacket.

I'll be the round about
The words will make you out 'n' out
You change the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley


The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley


In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you


I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distance atmosphere
Call it morning driving thru the sound and even in the valley


Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagles dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand
Surrounded by a millions years


The right inside jacket noted the song titles.
Side One:
1 Roundabout
2 Cans And Brahms
3 We Have heaven
4 South Side Of The Sky

Side Two:
1 Five Per Cent For Nothing
2 Long Distance Runaway
3 The Fish
4 Mood For The Day
5 Heart of the Sunrise

Meet The Band:
John Anderson - Vocals
Bill Bruford - Drums, Percussion
Steve Howe - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
Chris Squire - Bass Guitars, Vocals
Rick Wakeman - Organ, Grand Piano

The back cover depicts the earth, some sort of ship... It reminds me of the album art of Boston's debut album in 1976. they had a giant space ship hurtling away from an exploding earth. I can only describe the air ship as a whale with sails attached to it.

The album protective sleeve advertises the other artists signed by Atlantic records. Some of the famous bands are the Rolling Stones,...

The flip side protective cover offers even more artists signed by Atlantic. I have a good many of these albums and they will appear in future updates.

Until then, I recommend buying the Yes CD or rescuing the old vinyl album from your basement as I have done. Slap it on the turntable and turn the volume up loud and let the album rock. Enjoy!

Yes Fragile Album Lyrics
Yes Fragile Lyrics

Yes fragile album liner notes
Yes Fragile Liner Notes

Yes fragile Back Record Cover
Yes fragile Back Record Cover

Yes fragile Record Jacket Sleeve
Yes fragile Record Jacket Sleeve

Yes Fragile Jacket Sleeve



LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

12/13/2007

Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive 1976


Frampton Comes Alive 1976 Record Album
Frampton Comes Alive 1976

This album had it all. A live performance, a wild crowd, superb guitar play, and 90 minutes of music that could be played at ear bleeding volumes. Frampton Comes Alive debuted at the heart of the so called Disco Era but quickly found a strong following of fans screaming for more.

Frampton Comes Alive was released in 1976 and his signature song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do is the song most identified with Frampton. It was the song that during his guitar riffs, he would make his guitar talk by using a device known as a talkbox. When the guitar started talking, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy cheering and screaming wildly. If you only listen to one Peter Frampton song, it is highly recommended that it be Do You Feel Like We Do as that one. You will come back for more.

Sidenote: The talkbox was a hidden device consisting of a clear tube that Frampton spoke into. The tube was connected to the guitar and in turn the guitar was connected to the talkbox on the stage. Whatever Frampton spoke into the tube, it would reverberate through the amplifier and sounded just like the guitar was talking. The rock band Aerosmith used this technique the previous year on it's hit single, Sweet Emotion but Frampton is most known for the wide use of the talkbox.

Second Sidenote: Frampton Comes Alive was recorded at Winterland, San Francisco and has sold over 16 million copies making it the best selling "Live" album to date. Show Me The way and Baby I Love Your Way were the album's hit singles that made it to the top 6 along with the 14 minute plus version of Do You Feel Like We Do earning Frampton more than 70 million dollars in 1976.

Peter Frampton honed his guitar skills playing lead in the band Humble Pie and The Herd. After several years, he recorded his own album, and two more before Comes Alive hit the mainstream of rock and roll. A rock and roll legend was born in San Francisco the night the album was recorded live on stage and 31 years later, only the lines on Frampton's face has changed. The music remains as strong and powerful as ever.

The back cover has Frampton with his signature guitar rocking on stage. The album didn't open as usual album jackets. This one opened from the top and when folded out completely, showed a full picture of Frampton jamming on stage with his guitar.
The album title tracks are printed on the right side.

Side One:
Introduction
Something's Happening
Doobie Wah
Show Me The Way
It's A Plain Shame

Side Two:
All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
Wind Of change
Baby I Love Your Way
I Wanna Go To The Sun

Side Three:
Penny For Your Thoughts
(I'll Give You) Money
Shine On
Jumping Jack Flash

Side Four:
Lines On My Face
Do You Feel Like We Do


The left inside jacket pictured Stanley Sheldon, back up guitar, and Bob Mayo, guitar and keyboards. Framptons previous albums were listed on the bottom right side.


The right inside jacket pictured drummer John Siomos and a larger picture of Frampton on stage. Bob Mayo played keyboards and is the only band member mentioned in the performance other than Frampton.


Both album inner jackets picture 25 popular albums which included The Captain And Tennille, The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Styx, The Tubes, Pablo Cruise, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Herb Albert, Head East, Joan Baez, and Spooky Tooth.


The album itself with the hit song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do showing.

Here are the lyrics to Do You Feel Like We Do

Well, Woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand
Whose wine, what wine, where the hell did I dine
Must have been a dream, I don’t believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I do
My friend got busted just the other day
They said don't walk, don't walk, don't walk away
Drove him to a taxi bent the boot hit the back
Had to play some music otherwise he'd crack
Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I
Do you, you, feel like I do
Yes I do
Do you, you, feel like I do
Champagne for breakfast and a sherman in my hand
Peached up, peach ale, never fails
Must have been a dream, I don't believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Do you, you, feel like I do
How you'd feel
Do you, you, feel like I
Bob Mayo on the keyboards, Bob Mayo


Do you feel like we do
Do you feel like we do
Ohhh that's true
Do you feel like we do, get back
Do you feel, do you feel like we do
Talkbox Lyrics
Do you feel
Do you feel
Like I feel
I want to thank you
Do you feel like we do
That's alright, that's alright to feel you'd like
Feel you'd like, a good time
We'll goto bed and good night
Good time, good time, good time, good time, tonight
Well...........










LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

Jesus Christ Superstar - 1970


Jesus Christ Superstar Rock Opera Record Album
Jesus Christ Superstar A 1970 Rock Opera

Jesus Christ Superstar, A 1970 Rock Opera

Jesus Christ Superstar, 1970, a rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics written by Tim Rice. This double album told the story of the events of Christ leading up to the crucifixion. This record, at the time, was very controversial. The Catholic church condemned the album citing blasphemy with "Hippies" singing songs about Jesus. As always, the young teens who heard this flocked to the record stores to buy this "Banned" album.
Ironically, Jesus Christ Superstar kept very close to the New Testament version and helped the young people of the day learn about the crucifixion and Christ's teachings. Apparently, rock and roll is not always the devils music.

The front cover simply states JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with golden angels linked in a circle bowing towards each other.

Yes, this is a double album but the inside jacket is simply a dark brown with absolutely no writing, art work, or pictures. Not even a list of songs or acts. It's the only album I can recall that has nothing on the inside jacket.

Second verse, same as the first. The right side of the jacket is the same, all brown with no writing except at the top right that has MCA2-10000 which is certainly an album code.

The backcover has the cast of Superstar :
Jesus Christ..........Ian Gillan
Judas Iscariot........Murray Head
Mary Maddalene........Yvonne Elliman
Pontius Pilate........Barry Dennen
King Herod............Mike D'Abo
Caiaphas..............Victor Brox
Simon Zealotes........Johnny Gustafson
Peter.................Paul Davis
Annas.................Brian Keith
High Priest...........Paul Raven

Performing in Superstar are members of Deep Purple, Joe Cockers Grease Band, Lord Sutch, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, The Big Three, Juicy Lucy, Quartermass, Merseybeats, Gracious, Plastic Penny, Spooky Tooth, Manfred Mann, and Nucleaus. And the 85 piece orchestra and the strings of the city of London.



The album had an insert with the complete score, lyrics, acts, scenes, and cast, and crew. It provides an easy way to follow along with the opera. Of course, the most popular song from the album was Superstar and got plenty of airtime on the radio. However, there were two versions of the song, a short and long play version. Here is the long play version lyrics.
Judas:
Every time I look at you I don't understand
Why you let the things you did get so out of hand
You'd have managed better if you'd had it planned
Why'd you choose such a backward time and such a strange land?


If you'd come today you would have reached a whole nation
Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication
Don't you get me wrong (repeat)
I only want to know (repeat)


Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?

Tell me what you think about your friends at the top
Who'd you think besides yourself's the pick of the crop?
Buddah was he where it's at? Is he where you are?
Could Muhammmed move a mountain or was that just PR?
Did you mean to die like that? Was that a mistake or
Did you know your messy death Would be a record-breaker?


Don't you get me wrong (repeat)
I only want to know (repeat)

Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ
Who are you? What have you sacrificed?
Jesus Christ Superstar
Do you think you're what they say you are?
(repeat and fade out)









LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

12/11/2007

The Mad Ice Scrapper

At dinner last night, I was reminded of an event that happened back in the 1970’s. I believe it was the winter of 1976, or maybe 1977. It was a Christmas holiday type event where each neighbor tried to outdo the next in Christmas decorations presentations. Being in the midst of the energy crisis, a time when just a few years earlier President Richard Nixon preached to all Americans to conserve oil, gas, and electricity. The Christmas light decorators had to find more energy efficient means to showcase their homes.

They came up with a very ingenious concept of brown and white paper lunch bags and nickel candles. The home owner would open each paper bag, add about an inch of sand to add weight so they would not blow away and line them starting at the street curb and then wind their way on both sides up their driveway. They would then add the nickel candles and light them. The paper bag would illuminate to a very bright decoration and the bag height would block the wind keeping the candle lit.


It would take hours to set up the bags and then every night relight or replace the candles and re-align whatever bags needed to be placed back into position.


That’s where Brad and I came in. At the height of the Christmas season, when every household was illuminated with these energy efficient decorations, we would take to the streets with our car. I was in my 1968 yellow Camaro, and we would find a street aglow with these light bags. I would then get really close to the curb and Brad would open the car door, and using the ice scrapper would mow down as many of the bags as he could.


Its hard to describe the sound the bags made when they came in contact with the ice scrapper, something like Thrack, thrack, thrack. We were laughing like idiots watching the bags almost explode as they were hit and then catch on fire immediately afterward. We would go street to street with the mad ice scrapper.


This went on for some time until we began to get chased from the neighbors who began to recognize the yellow Camaro. The mad ice scrapper retired after an all to brief reign of terror.




LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

12/01/2007

Alice Cooper - Love It To Death 1971


Alice Cooper Love It To Death Record Album
Alice Cooper Love It To Death Record Album

Alice Cooper - Love It To Death - 1971

In 1971, Alice Cooper released Love It To Death which contained his smash hit, I'm Eighteen that quickly turned into a teenage anthem that still rocks today 35 years later. Last year when my son turned 18, he was blasting 18 on the stereo just as I did many year ago.As you can see on the front cover, Alice is dressed to thrill, or at least entertain. Alice Cooper was the first band to bring showbiz and entertainment into their tours.

Although the shows were graphic and gruesome, (Plenty of fake blood, theatrics, wild gory scenes) they were also packed with great rock and roll music. The audiences every night were not just treated to Alice Cooper singing and playing, but were also entertained with mini Broadway type shows.

And oh yea, Alice Cooper is the artist formerly known as Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice had his name legally changed in the early 1970's.


The left side album jacket is dominated by a giant eye with heavy bushy eyebrow with streaked mascara. The eyeball has a picture of the band Alice Cooper. The bottom left side has the song tracks and credits.
Album Tracks Are:
Side One:
Caught in a dream
I'm eighteen
Long way to go
Black juju
Side Two:
Is it my body
Hallowed by my name
Second coming
Ballard of Dwight Fry
Sun Arise


The right side of the inside album jacket had another giant eye with yet another picture of Alice Cooper.


The back cover shows the Alice Cooper group with guitars ready. Alice is dressed in a leopard type cape and heavy mascara. The classic Alice cooper look.


If you put the inside jacket pictures together, you get a freaked out frantic Alice Cooper in mascara looking out at you. Marilyn Manson has nothing on Alice.

I'll leave you with the lyrics to the albums smash hit, I'm Eighteen.


Lines form on my face and hands
Lines form from the ups and downs
I'm in the middle without any plans
I'm a boy and I'm a man

I'm eighteen
and I don't know what I want
Eighteen
I just don't know what I want
Eighteen
I gotta get away
I gotta get out of this place
I'll go runnin in outer space
Oh yeah

I got a
baby's brain and an old man's heart
Took eighteen years to get this far
Don't always know what I'm talkin about
Feels like I'm livin in the middle of doubt
Cause I'm

Eighteen
I get confused every day
Eighteen
I just don't know what to say
Eighteen
I gotta get away

Lines form on my face and my hands
Lines form on the left and right
I'm in the middle
the middle of life
I'm a boy and I'm a man
I'm eighteen and I LIKE IT
Yes I like it
Oh I like it
Love it
Like it
Love it
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen!
Eighteen and I LIKE IT








LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

11/25/2007

Jethro Tull - Aqualung 1971


Jethro Tull Aqualung Record Album Cover
Jethro Tull Aqualung Record Album Cover
Aqualung My Friend

Jethro Tull released their fourth album in 1971 titled Aqualung. The title song was Aqualung, a song about a dirty old man, or perhaps, about god. Either way, the sound was hard hitting, and the flute haunting. It took some time to follow along with the lyrics as Ian Anderson, lead singer and songwriter of the band, (No, there is no one named Jethro Tull in the band) bridged choppy lyrics changing tempo mid sentence. This is best on Aqualung and Locomotive Breath.

The lyrics of Aqualung, title song from the album.

Sitting on a park bench
Eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Hey, Aqualung

Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Hey, Aqualung

Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Oh/Hey, Aqualung

Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
The only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
As he bends to pick a dog end
He goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.
Feeling alone
The army's up the rode
Salvation a la mode and
A cup of tea.

Aqualung my friend
Don't you start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it's only me.

Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
When the ice that
Clings on to your beard is
Screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
With deep-sea-diver sounds,
And the flowers bloom like
Madness in the spring.
Ohhh, Aqualung


The album inside covers had no information about the band or the album itself. The artwork depicted five men, seemingly from old London, in a meeting, one holding a lamp, one a cross, one crouched and looking leftward, one sitting playing a piano, and one drinking wine.

The back ground looks like a cathedral, or large church. Perhaps a monastery.

The backcover has a picture of an old vagrant, sitting almost in the gutter, beard and clothes ragged, with his faithful dog with him.
At the top left, the song titles:
Side One
Aqualung
Cross Eyed Mary
Cheap Day Return
Mother Goose
Wond'ring Aloud
Up To Me

Side Two
My God
Hymn 43
Slipstream
Locomotive Breath
Wind Up

At the top right, Ian Anderson wrote a little verse, a sort of spin off from bibles book of Genesis. He is comparing Aqualung to God. I happen to notice that the CD version does not have this on the back cover. Nor do the releases in the 80's or the 25th anniversary edition. Perhaps the words were to powerful. Here are the verses.

1. In the beginning Man created god:
and in the image of Man created he him.


2. And Man gave unto god a multitude of names.
That he might be lord over all the earth when it was suited to Man.


3. And on the seventh millionth day Man rested and did
lean heavily on his god and saw that it was good.


4. And Man formed Aqualung of the dust of the ground.
And a host of others likened unto his kind.


5. And these lesser men Man did cast into the void.
And some were burned,
And some were put apart from their kind.


6. And Man became the god that he had created
and with his miracles did rule over all the earth.


7. But as all these things did come to pass,
the spirit that did cause man to create his god,
lived on within all men,
even within Aqualung.


8. And man saw it not.

9. But for Christ's sake he'd better start looking.







LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

11/20/2007

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run 1975


Bruce Springsteen Born to Run Iconic Record Album
Bruce Springsteen Born to Run Iconic Record Album
Tramps like us, baby we were born to run

Bruce Springsteen was somewhat of an underground rock and roll legend before his Born To Run album hit the charts in 1975. In 1973 Springsteen released his first album, Greetings From Asbury Park and followed that up just months later with The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle. Both albums scored minimal success in the top 40 yet the word spread and Springsteen was ready to emerge from the velvet underground.

Born To Run opened with the tune Thunder Road, a ballad that quickly turned into a hard rock almost ghostly tale of a high school romance on the verge of going sour. The boy decided to make one more attempt to win Mary's heart as he sang.....


Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my cars out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The doors open but the ride it ain't free


The album jacket revealed a candid photo of Springsteen with his hand in his hair and the lyrics to all the songs. The following is the beginning of Thunder Road.
The screen door slams
Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singling for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty buy hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me


The right side of the jacket continued with the rest of the lyrics of the songs. The albums hit song, Born To Run, ended with these powerful lyrics.
Someday girl, I don't know when
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go
And we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us
Baby we were born to run


The back cover of Born To Run has a photo of saxophone player and E Street band member Clarence Clemons and also displayed the song titles of the album.

Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Free Out
Night
Backstreets
Born To Run
She's The One
Meeting Across The River
Jungleland


Band members and associates are....

Garry Tallent, Max Weinberg, Roy Bittan, Clarence Clemons, Suki Lahav, Danny Federici, Steve Van Zandt.

This album had all the ingredients to become a blockbuster album and it did not disappoint. Born To Run stayed on the top 40 for many weeks and continued to build the reputation of the rocker from New Jersey.

Hey Eddie, can you catch us a ride?


Born To Run Lyrics
Born To Run Lyrics

Lyrics To Born To Run Album
Lyrics To Born To Run Album

Born To Run Album Back Cover
Born To Run Album Back Cover



LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

11/01/2007

Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell 1977

Meatloaf Bat Out Of Hell Record Album
Meatloaf Bat Out Of Hell Record Album
On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
Will he offer me his mouth? Yes!
Will he offer me his teeth? Yes!
Will he offer me his jaws? Yes!
Will he offer me his hunger? Yes!
Again, will he offer me his hunger? Yes!
And will he starve without me? Yes!
And does he love me? Yes!
Yes!
On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses? Yes!
I bet you say that to all the boys


Bat Out Of Hell was a rock and roll album released in 1977 by a relatively unknown rocker and songwriter.

The album was a collection of teenage angst songs smartly choreographed to fit together nicely in a tight theme. The Grassy Knoll Institute recommends listening to Bat right away.

Meatloaf, who had a bit part in the cult classic film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, literally burst onto the music scene with his debut album with such classics as the title theme, Bat out Of Hell, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad, Paradise By The Dashboard Lights, and You took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth. This album only has 7 songs, but all are classic tunes that fit right in the theme. The song lyrics were printed on the inside jacket cover protecting the record.


The back cover has the song titles, Meatloaf in tux and shades, Jim Steinman, who wrote all the songs, and an unidentified woman rumored to be Ellen Foley who sang on the Paradise By the dashboard Light and You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth tracks.


Bat Out Of Hell Album Lyrics
Bat Out Of Hell Album Lyrics

Bat Out of Hell Record Album Back Cover
Bat Out of Hell Record Album Back Cover


LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

4/01/2005

Take Your Best Shot

Had My Cake - Eating It Too

OK Modbloggers, I had my fun this April Fools day. Now its your turn. The photo on top is me. *GASP* Yes, its me way back in 1978 when I was 18 years old. Its from my college student ID card. Its time for "Give me your best caption" time. Don't hold back. I'll start off as usual...... He's A Rebel Without A Clue.


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

3/31/2005

Clay Aiken Lands FOX Sitcom

The Clay Aiken Bunch
Clay Aiken, runner up to last years American Idol fame has parlayed his fame into a starring role in a new upcoming FOX Network sitcom. It is loosely based on the 1970's hit The Brady Bunch.

The shocker is: Simon Cowell announced his resignation from Idol to join Aiken on the sitcom. Rumor has it Simon will revise the role of Alice, the wise cracking maid.


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL